Majlis Painters of Saudi Arabia

I would love to visit this region in-person...

I thought many of you would be interested in this account of Majlis Painters from the southwest region of Saudi Arabia.

The Asir region is known for cool mountain air, free roaming wild baboons and traditional women Majlis Painters.

The majlis is the “parlor” of a Saudi home, the room which guests are received in.  The majlis have been painted with patterns of lines, branch-like figures, triangles and squares that wrap around the entire room.

Within each square khatma of the design the painter expresses their individuality.

Triangles with little trees or branch-like designs are known as banats (little girls), often painters would name one of these after their daughters or female relations.

Some of the large triangles represent mountains. Zigzag lines stand for water and lightening.

Originally, colors came from natural sources.

Red comes from the crushed meshiga stone.

Light brown from the somgha tree in the spring and dark brown in the summer.

Greens came from verdant pastures

 Within each square khatma of the design the painter expresses their individuality.

Find the triangles with little trees or branch-like designs are known as banats (little girls), often painters would name one of these after their daughters or female relations.

Some of the large triangles represent mountains. Zigzag lines stand for water and lightening.

Originally, colors came from natural sources.

- Red comes from the crushed meshiga stone.

- Light brown from the somgha tree in the spring and dark brown in the summer.

- Greens from verdant pastures

Families lived in traditional stone and mud homes, several stories high with the majlis on the first floor.                                                                                                               

Asri wall paintings were traditionally designed and executed solely by women.

Egg painting is Asri a recent extension of these paintings.  

This photo is dedicated to my beautiful artist friend Emmie (Anneliese Pysanky).

Photos and excerpts from Saudi Aramco World

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